Against All Odds,
1960s Grape Pickers
Won Right to Bargain

By

Cynthia Crossen

Updated May 1, 2006 11:59 p.m. ET

(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.)

In the beginning, they estimated their chance of success at close to zero.

Many of California's farm workers, born in Mexico, had become permanent residents of the U.S., and some were citizens. But as agricultural workers, they weren't eligible for the minimum wage or health benefits, and...